AntelopeValleyModelRailroadClubRollingStockStandards

The following standards are designed to facilitate interchange, smooth operation,
and reliable performance of rolling stock on the layout of the Antelope Valley
Model Railroad Club.

All freight cars, passenger cars, non-revenue cars, and powered and
non-powered locomotives must be inspected before they are first used on the
layout, and annually thereafter. (If passed, they will be marked by the Club
Technical Inspector with a distinctive mark on their undersides.)

All cars must be marked with paint on their underside with the member's
distinctive color code, as assigned by the Club Secretary. (Color assignments
are listed on the roster.)

All cars shall conform to the NMRA (National Model Railroad Association)
RP-20 weight practice for HO scale, that is, 1-ounce plus 1/2-ounce for each
inch of car length. (For example, a 6-inch car should weigh 4-ozs, and a 7-inch
car should weigh 4 1/2-ozs.) Car weight should not be less than 5%, or over
10% of the standard. Non-conforming cars may be approved by the Club Technical
Inspector, for example, in the case of a passenger/unit train.

All weights, loads, and containers must be securely fastened to the
cars so that they will not fall off when the cars are inverted.

All cars must have body-mounted couplers; no talgo-mounted (truck mounted)
couplers. Non-conforming cars may be approved by the Club Technical Inspector,
for example, in the case of a passenger/unit train.

All cars must have Kadee® or Kadee-compatible couplers, except locomotives
that may have a dummy front coupler. All couplers must be in good repair, and be
set to match the Kadee coupler height gauge within 0.03-inches (1/32-inch).
Non-conforming cars may be approved by the Club Technical Inspector, for
example, in the case of a passenger/unit train.

All wheel flanges shall conform to the NMRA RP-25 wheel contour practice.
Metal or plastic wheels are acceptable, but no dirty or worn wheels are permitted.
(A worn wheel is a wheel having a sharp flange, or missing the proper contour.)

All wheel gauges must conform to the NMRA S-4 wheel gauge standard.

All cars must be able to roll down a 2% grade.

All rear-end cars shall have a resistance of 12K-ohms between one pair
of wheels. (This requirement is due to the type of detection system we use,
and can be met by having a 1/8-watt, 12K-ohm resistor installed between the
wheels on one axle.